Saturday, March 12, 2011

EKB Capsule News...West Virginia...3-13-'11

Michael McCaffery, 39, of Huntington, died Friday after being struck by a tree while he and fellow Asplundh workers were working for a local power company in Greenup County, Kentucky to remove the tree from a line along Tower Road.

Tommy Edward Young Sr., 43, and his son, Tommy Edward Young Jr., 23, Clay County, West Virginia, were sentenced Friday after being convicted of conspiring with others to steal more than $600,000 worth of construction equipment, vehicles and other property. From June 2003 to October 2008, the Youngs stole vehicles from New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania and brought them to West Virginia. As part of a plea deal, two friends testified during a March 2010 trial that the Youngs paid them to store stolen equipment. Tommy Edward Young Sr. was sentenced to 11 years in prison, while his son received four years, 10 months in federal prison.

The state Environmental Quality Board has asked the Department of Environmental Protection to amend the permit of a Monongalia County surface mine. The Sierra Club sought the new permit conditions in its appeal of a water permit for ICG subsidiary Patriot Mining and its new 225-acre New Hill West surface mine near Cassville. The Sierra Club and scientists say conductivity pollution that is not detected in the DEP's current water analysis is causing widespread water quality damage downstream from coal-mining operations. The DEP has 45 days from the time of the request to study the issue and add appropriate discharge limits to the permit.

Signs reading “Wall Street and banks caused this recession, not workers. Let them pay for it,” and “Stop the War on Workers,” filled Capitol Square Saturday as a Workers’ Rally took place in support of workers in Wisconsin who are battling to keep their collective bargaining rights. Marion County Delegate Mike Caputo riled up the crowd, saying Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has woken a sleeping giant. Walker has been attempting to dismantle collective bargaining rights for public employees in Madison, but 14 Democratic lawmakers fled the state to avoid a vote. Friday, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed a resolution to show support for Wisconsin workers. Some delegates criticized the resolution, saying it was a waste of time when West Virginia has so many pressing issues of its own. But, Saturday Caputo told the crowd that union workers have to stick together because an injury to one is an injury to all. Caputo said he stands with workers all across this country.

The West Virginia Legislature approved a bill Friday making holding someone captive through coercion or threats of physical harm a misdemeanor charge. Supporters say the felony offense of kidnapping does not cover attempts to restrain someone through means that fall just short of actual force. Celena Roby, a 33 year old mother of two, helped write the measure. She shared her ordeal at the hand of an abuser with lawmakers while urging them to adopt the law.